Key socket foe incandescent lamps



(No Model.)

B. Wa SNOW.

`KEY SOCKET PoR INoANDBscENT LAMPS.'

N0. 554,896.A Y Patented Feb. 18, 1896.

FlE-E- E-L-J- lfm-7 .'LllA l Y il gm@ A 1Q/2 KAN 11 ATTORNEY- UNITED i STATES- PATENT Orricn.

BENJAMIN W. SNOW, OF SYRACUSE, NEW' YORK, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN WHATLEY, OF SAME PLACE.

f KEY-SOCKET FOR INCANDESCENT LAMPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 554,896, dated February 18, 1896.

Application led January 2, 1895. Serial No. 533,629. (No model.)

T0 all whom tmc/y concern:

Beit known that I, BENJAMIN W. SNOW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Key-Sockets for Incandescent Lamps; and I do hereby declare the following to be a4 full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in Which-- Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved key-socket for incandescent lamps with certain parts shown sectional for clearer illustration of its construction; Fig. 2, an elevation thereof taken from a different point of sight, with portions represented as broken away and in section for better illustration; Fig. 3, another elevational View of my device as appearing from a position of sight diametrically opposite to that taken for Fig. l and with parts delineated broken away and sectional; Fig. 4, a top plan of the socket; and Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are elevational details of the U-shaped bridge and frame, upper porcelain stop-disk, lower porcelain base-disk, and contact-spring, key, and operative contiguousv parts, all assembled together and detached from the normally-supporting cap and inner and outer shells, which details, in their consecutive order, will illustrate the modus opercmdi of the contact-spring of my device as acted upon by the operative cam pertaining to the key portion of my socket structure.

Like letters and figures of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

The object of my invention is the production of a key-socket for incandescent lamps that is of comparatively simple construction, very inexpensive to manufacture, requiring less labor and material for its formation than in the forms of sockets now commonly in use, and yet concurrently retaining the average carrying capacity for the electric current, by its simplicity of formation insuring greater effectiveness, an increased degree of airspace .between the poles provided for, and perfect insulation with no chance for shortcircuit by reason of thorough separation of the salient parts, and, finally, the combining in vone integral member of a U -shaped bridge and frame, insuring stability and required adaptation conjointly with economy of construction.

My invention consists in the novel features of construction and operation and coworking and adaptability of parts, as hereinafter described and specifically set forth in the anneXed claims.

My improved key-socket for incandescent lamps is constructed substantially as follows:

A is theA cylindrical metallic cap; B, the porcelain base of disk shape disposed within the upper swelled portion of the cap; C, the U-shaped combination bridge and frame erected vertically upon said base and rigidly secured thereto at the bottom part of its U- like frame; D, a porcelain stop firmly mounted upon the top portions of the combined bridge and frame member C; E, a contactshell secured to the upper face of the disklike stop D and arising upward a suitable height, which inner overhead shell, whether adapted to contact or non-contact, is of satisfactory sheet metal and usually corrugated circumferentially to form screw threads thereby,although obviously,when preferable, said shell may be devoid of threads and slotted or perforated as desired or advantageous.

.F denotes the customary outer shell, of suitable inetal, which is of cylindrical form, and incloses free from contact therewith the combination bridge and frame and over and contiguous located parts, said outer shell by its lower open end iittin g and resting within the upper portion of the cap A and snugly interposed between the aforesaid upper annular part of the cap and the porcelain base seated in the cap interior, while upwardly the open top end terminates on a plane at or about the height of the encircled inner shell E.

G indicates the key, comprising the handle, spindle and cam portions, which key member is, transversely to the upright standard portions of the member C, pivotally mounted upon (or through) the U-shaped bridge and frame C aforedesignated, the cam-like termination of the key operating upon a contiguous contact spring (or plate) H of angular form longitudinally, which stated spring- IOO plate is, by its upper end, securely connected to and pendent from the under side of the porcelain stop-disk D adjacent a point of its circumferential bordering edge.

I I' are the upper and lower bindin g-posts or terminals,7 forming respectively connections for a wire or cable K K', said binding posts or plates being longitudinally of an L or right-angular shape and suitably secured to the porcelain disks B D in such manner that the post I at a right-angular portion extends pen dently from the porcelain stop D, while from an opposite portion of the porcelain base B in like manner the post I projects upwardly a corresponding distance. rlhe extremities of the outstanding parts of the posts are respectively provided with binding-screws L L. The peculiar shaped contact-spring II is adapted by its lower extremity to have a wiping contact with the horizontal base of the binding-post I through the action of the cam of the key G thereupon, said wiping action being clearly delineated by Figs. 5, (5, and 7.

The wiping contact aforesaid, occurring whenever the lipped end a of lthe contactspring is carried (by the key-cam) into engagement with the ilat foot l) of the bindingpost I', insures such consecutive burnishing of the surface of the foot b as is essential to most perfect operation of my device-zl e., a thorough contact and perfect conductive qualities.

I construct the U-shaped combined bridge and frame C pertaining to my socket structure out of one integral strip or blank of sheet metal formed up in U-like shape, said combination member, as is obvious, holding the spindle or shaft carrying the cam of the key G, and binds the contact by the same screw. rihis formation of the bridge and frame in one member insures simplicity and inexpensiveness thereof, and providing that which is satisfactory and requisite for a practical and non-expensive bridge and frame.

As is self-evident, the prime function of the spring II is, through the impin gen1 ent or non impingement of the cam, to make or break the contact between the poles.

It will be further noted that in the operation of my device the contact-spring, which is attached at its extremity only, and thus has three spring sides or sections extending over and round three sides of the pressure-block and in the path and plane of the path of the latter, will be first depressed and at the same time slide rearwardly into contact with one terminal, and then will return. slightly and rise into the groove of the block to retain the block in its operative position. The contactspring in its forward movement has a scraping action upon the opposing contact plate or terminal and thus rids it of the products of any fusion that may have occurred when the circuit was last broken, and then returning part way over this cleansed path makes intimate and effective contact. In other words, it first removes all objectionable matter. Moreover, the formation of the groove in the block insures retention of the block in its operative position.

Having described my invention, what I claim is In a device of the class described, the combination of an insulative base, an insulative stop supported thereon, a terminal secured to the base, a second terminal secured to the stop, a revoluble key journaled intermediate of the base and stop and provided with an angular block having pressure-surfaces, each provided with a groove transverse the direction of revolution of said block, and a contact-spring having one extremity secured to the stop and in electrical connection with the second terminal, said spring extending freely over and round three sides of the block in the path and plane of the path thereof, whereby the spring may be depressed and caused to make a rearward slidin g contact with the first terminal when operated upon by the block, and may then return slightly and rise into a groove of the block to retain the latter in its operative position.

In testimony whereof I affix mysignature, in presence of two witnesses, this 3d day of August, 1893.

BENJAMIN lV. SNOW. lVitnesses:

WM. C. RAYMOND, E. XANXEMOELLER.

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